RECRUITING: Alabama continues trend of getting top offensive linemen

Andrew BoneRecruiting Analyst

Published: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, September 9, 2013 at 11:48 p.m.

A lot of discussion by Alabama fans has been the performance of the offensive line in the Virginia Tech game. The Crimson Tide staff is making a lot of noise on that front with the class of 2014, landing commitments from several of the top linemen in the country.

Alabama received a commitment last Wednesday from Cameron Robinson, a five-star prospect and the No. 1 offensive lineman in the country, from West Monroe, La. Rivals.com ranks Robinson as the No. 3 player overall.

Robinson is just the latest top-five line recruit Alabama has landed. Andre Smith was ranked the No. 2 player, and D.J. Fluker was ranked No. 3. Cyrus Kouandjio was ranked No. 4 overall. Smith and Fluker were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Kouandjio projects as a first-rounder in the 2014 draft class. These are just the five-stars who have been successful.

Barrett Jones won the Outland and Rimington trophies during his four years in Tuscaloosa. Chance Warmack was an All-American and first-round selection by the Tennessee Titans. Mike Johnson and Antoine Caldwell were first team All-Americans. James Carpenter was a first-round selection. Alabama has signed the No. 1 offensive lineman three times since 2006. Robinson’s signature in February will make No. 4.

Offensive line coach Mario Cristobal is certainly making a strong impression. Alabama has six offensive linemen committed in the 2014 class. The number may stay the same on signing day in February, but the staff continues to heavily recruit other top targets on the line.

The class includes three Rivals100 commitments in Robinson, Ross Pierschbacher — a four-star offensive tackle from Cedar Falls, Iowa — and Viane Talamaivao, a four-star offensive guard from Centennial High School in Corona, Calif. Robinson and Pierschbacher are solid with their commitments. Talamaivao has yet to visit Alabama, but he plans to travel to Tuscaloosa for the first time in November when Alabama hosts LSU. He also plans to take other visits.

J.C. Hassenauer, a four-star from East Ridge High in Woodbury, Minn., is the No. 1-ranked center. He is not interested in talking to other schools. Dominick Jackson, a four-star from College of San Mateo in California, is the highest-ranked junior college lineman.

Alabama also has commitments from Montel McBride, a three-star guard from Plant City, Fla., and Dallas Warmack, a 2015 guard from Atlanta. He is the younger brother of Chance Warmack.

A few key targets who remain for Alabama include Brian Wallace, a three-star offensive tackle from Christian Brothers in St. Louis; Marcelys Jones, a four-star offensive guard from Glenville Academic Campus in Cleveland; Rod Taylor, a four-star offensive tackle from Callaway High in Jackson, Miss., and Josh Casher, a four-star center from St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Mobile.

Reach Andrew Bone at andrew@tidesports.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewJBone

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